Product of Newfoundland
This is a blog about Newfoundland: The strange truths, tall tales & pop culture of a foggy island.
Stories
The Terrible, Awful, Probably Preventable, Great Fire of 1892
On a hot summer day in 1892 a horrible fire swept through St. John’s. It left eleven-thousand people homeless and forever changed the face of the city.
Frightening Lightning and Horrific Hail in Lumsden
On June 26, 1930 a horrible storm with giant hail pelted the small town of Lumsden and wrecked havoc all along Newfoundland’s east coast.
The Blimp That Blew Away
“Everyone was harried with fear, but they could not take their eyes of the monster which seemed to have life.” That’s how the St. John’s Daily Star described the fateful visit of US blimp C-5 to the city in 1919.
Salads, Saints and 7 Other Iceberg Oddities
Strange stories and odd iceberg trivia from the edge of Iceberg Alley — Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
Live, Laugh, Loaf: Newfoundland Bread Lore
From finding dead bodies to fending off fairies, bread was so much more than a nutritional staple in Newfoundland.
April Foolishness in Newfoundland
Mar falten, chamber pots and press pile compasses — a collection pranks, customs and other foolishness for April Fools’ Day in Newfoundland.
Mermaids, Pirates and Propaganda
The story of pirate Peter Easton and the tale of Newfoundland’s most famous mermaid share one point of connection — Richard Whitbourne.
What The Heck Is Sheila’s Brush?
Most Newfoundlanders can probably tell you Sheila’s Brush is a March snowstorm but who Sheila is, and how the storm got named for her are trickier questions.
Francis Pickmore’s Worst Winter. Ever.
How bad can a Newfoundland winter get? How about snow drifts in the governor’s bedroom? Not that the governor complained much - he couldn’t, he ended up pickled in a barrel of rum.
How Did Dildo, Newfoundland Get Its Name?
Owing to its name, Dildo may be one of the best known communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. How the town got such an unusual name is a matter of debate.
John B. Garland and The Blood Book
John B. Garland, Newfoundland’s first speaker of the legislature, had an interesting hobby — making blood collages.
Candlemas Day: Cake, Candles and Kings
There’s more to February 2nd than groundhogs and weather lore. People of Newfoundland have celebrated Candlemas for generations and have lots of interesting customs that have nothing to do with looking for shadows.